Same Time

Image courtesy of Simcoe Little Theatre.

I'm curled up in my bed, watching Same Time, Next Year.

If you haven't seen it, make it a point to do so this year. It's just, well, lovely.

Good night.

Twins

This photo is mine...snapped 'er up in Antibes.

I just read this blog from A Cup of Jo and thought it was the cutest thing.

Scroll down to where Jo's mum talks about triplets and the strange psychology. LOVES it.

Jamie's posted pictures of our vacay on Facebook. I'm so in love with them. I know right? ME?! Looking at vacation pictures?! Who'da thunk it?

Blue Valentine

That cast...that long-anticipated release date, that connection.

That ENDING.

Get ready to cry. Get ready to wish you were still there and wish you would never be there again. It's beautiful. And torturous. Oscar please.

Image courtesy of Taysha the Film Geek. Thank you.

Love love LOVES Cannes

The day we left Cannes, we found this breakfast place (we were STARVING), and shared a whopper of a meal. This couple was so adorable, we asked if we could take their picture. They obliged...



And then Jamie was so enamored by the guy sitting behind me, we tried everything we could to take an inconspicuous picture of him. Obviously hilarity ensued.



Thank you for those, James!

Snipit from the Mother Hen

My mummy has just listened to a "tape" and had this to share...

"If you are breathing,

there is more right with you

than wrong with you."

We had the biggest chuckle you can imagine transcontinentally.

I spent the day in London today,
grading papers in Starbucks,
then wandering around SoHo
and doing a little retail therapy on Oxford Street.
It was cold, sunny, and fantastic.

I hope your weekend was just as good.

Oprah-fied and Ikea-fied

Ang and I decided tonight that one of the reasons we are feeling so down lately is because our HOME isn't so homey. Walls are bare, furniture leaves much to be desired, and there isn't any STUFF hanging around (save paper upon paper from school). So I up and bought the bookcase from Ikea that I've been eying since I had a record collection in my home. It's been ordered and will come to the house on February something-or-other. We are THRILLED. Now it's on to pictures from our travels in frames that we hope to get on the cheap at the charity shoppes around town. It's starting to feel a lot better already.

Here is an image courtesy of Leanne's husband's brother's partner, Ryan's facebook album...

Hope your day is as rosy as mine just got ;)

Matching Pink Hanging Moses Baskets?

I'm not sure if things could GET any cuter in this picture.

Unless of course the basket was two baskets, they were pink, and the children being photographed belonged to (is that the right verb?) my friends. THEN it would be cuter.

Image courtesy of Unhappy Hipsters.

You're Missing

Following an absolutely awful encounter with a student today (do they forget that we are human beings too?), I found some solace when I found this quote on The Year was 91...

That’s been my problem.

I miss what I already have,

and I surround myself

with things that are missing.

Tomorrow is a new chance to turn it all around. Whatever "it" is.

I hope your day is going decidedly better than mine.

The Feve-a

I was looking through Kara's Facebook album today and stumbled upon this little diddy from right before I left Kooorea. We have World Cup Fever and there is NOT a pill for that.

Miss you, Girls.




From top, Yours Truly, Kate-orium (Katie), Kara, and Michelle. Swoon.

It was four thousand degrees, we couldn't find a seat in the city to save our lives, but we were together, we were happy, we were eating chicken. Life was sweet.

Dealing with Pain

"The hardest thing ever is taking chances.

Because you can only take so much pain.

And you can only get hurt so many times before you create a bubble around yourself to avoid any more scars. And then you end up never really living at all.

So we deal with pain.

We take chances and we take risks, because either way we’re going to lose, and it’s going to hurt."

--Unknown

Quote courtesy of Things She Loves.

Gifts

Very few gifts in life are real gifts.

Gifts have become projections of what others would want to receive; they are things exchanged for other things; they are how others want to see us; they are selected from a list.

True gifts are free.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not one of those, "the best things in life are free" people. Sometimes the perfect gift costs a MINT. I more so mean that they are free from "shackles".

They come entirely without strings; entirely without ulterior motives. Gifts are given with heart. They are given with only one thought in mind: I want nothing more in giving this than to know the joy that comes with receiving it.

Henry David Thoreau said it best, thinks I: "The most I can do for my friend is simply be his friend. I have no wealth to bestow on him. If he knows that I am happy in loving him, he will want no other reward. Is not friendship divine in this?"

Is this the greatest gift? A friendship? During the dreary month of January, when the urge to get on a plane bound for the Great White North, I would say yes...definitely.

However, I think we can branch out a bit. We can give, but I constantly need to remind myself when giving: am I giving this for me or for him or her? Am I giving to get that warm fuzzy feeling inside that comes with knowing I've done something right and good? Or am I giving because I recognize that warm fuzzy feeling and love to feel it myself upon receipt of a great gift?

I guess I have to keep giving. As they say, practice makes permanent.

WALK THE MOON "Anna Sun" OFFICIAL Music Video

In the spirit of all the house parties you wish you could relive, first kisses that were so much better in practice than in theory, and the feeling of lightness that comes when some of the sadness that's been hanging around finally lifts...



I've just had a GREAT day. I hope yours was equally as eighties-aerobically-styled-fantastic.

Barneys Version Trailer

Here is yet another Official Toronto Film Festival Selection. Barney's Version looks like a goodie, non? More here if you're interested...

Yours

Though they are a bit whiny, I do quite like the Decemberists. Here is Los Angeles, I'm Yours.

A few memorable quotes

...before the vacation gets too far away, here are two of my faves that I just had to share.

"Check yourself before you wreck yourself."

(said almost everyday for every circumstance including, but not limited to situations requiring more wine, opportunities to talk to gorgeous men, and instances whereby one or both of us was acting the fool. In order to be sure we were doing what was right [that is, drinking more wine, talking to more men, and consistently acting the fool, as long as we didn't look sloppy or ugly], we reminded each other to, "check yourself before you wreck yourself."

"Tell that to the Rainman!"

(said more than once a day. Reference to The Hangover when the weirdo future brother-in-law was sure he could win at Black Jack. After getting shot down, he assured the men that Rainman could do it and he was...well...otherwise unable in some ways. Used in situations where one of us questioned the sincerity, reliability, or ability of the other. We were sure we could do it. Whatever IT was.)




Listening to Fantasia right now (I know...what has happened to my musical taste?! But the song The Thrill is Gone features Cee-Lo Green and is absolutely to DIE for! Take a listen.

Happy Sunday. I have got to get to work.

The Big Purple Wheel

I had to be at work for 9 on Saturday morning, so I was a bit on the tired side when we got home. I slept most of the early afternoon away, got dressed and headed out to London for a solo tour. Check out that nutty hair!



Hopped off the train at Charing Cross and headed straight over to Trafalgar Square. I love the way the clouds hid the light yet, somehow, made it brighter down here on earth.

I started walking towards Piccadilly Circus. Passed some theatres along the way...



...and mingled with literally thousands of people in the square. I love being a tourist.

Popped over to SoHo for some eye candy...

...and stumbled upon one of my favourite sights in the city: rental bikes.



I went for some soup and salad at Caffe Uno on Argyll Street. The wine was great and the service was even better. Then I kept walking...

Old Fenwick's was closed, but still looked magnificent.

I totally feel in love with this little nook, just east of Hyde Park. As I toured down Brook Street, I passed Claridge's, tons of fancy people in fancy fur coats, and a wedding where the bride wore oyster. It was a good jaunt.





At Grosvenor Square, I took a right on Duke Street and a trip down memory lane.



Back onto Oxford Street, I stumbled upon Selfridge's (much to my mother's chagrin, I'm sure) and took a peek around the institution.







I kept walking down Oxford Street (after a pop into the biggest Primark I think I'll ever see), and wandered around Marble Arch awhile.

Just to the right of the Arch, in front of the entrance to Hyde Park, there is this magnificent statue in the middle of a manicured lawn. I couldn't get enough.

I headed back up to Tottenham Road, and back down to Leicester Square to see a little more. Take a peek at Map My Run for the route!

The entire square is under construction, so after the circuit, I got out of there. Walked south back towards the river...

Having a tea in his cab outside Charing Cross...

...I headed across Millennium Bridge...



for some fabulous night-time views of the city.



Since people were flooding out of Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank, I popped in to use the ladies' room. Turns out there was this (free?) event going on with music and conversation all about orchestras and classical music. Don't mind if I do park it for a bit and listen to the banter. I love life's little surprises.



And then I ended my night with a thorough examination of The London Eye. I would assume that, much like Parisians aren't too keen on the lit up Eiffel Tower, Londoners could consider the Eye an eyesore (pardon the pun). But I don't know...through its ostentatious-ness, there is an element of beauty; a bit of art nouveau charm. Surrounded by a cloudy sky that was illuminated by the city lights, it certainly did catch my eye last night.

Crossing back across the Thames at Westminster Bridge, I snapped a few touristy shots as I dodged cars (and certain death) by crossing the street about three times.

Then I walked back to Charing Cross along the north side of the river, taking full advantage of the fabulous view of The Eye once again...

I love love love this shot. The Burger Bar? Are you kidding? I love this place.

At this point, it was nearly 10 and I had been walking for about six hours. A bit sleepy, non?

Passing all the ornate government offices that dot the river, I was pleasantly surprised to see the Palace of Whitehall tucked away just before Embankment. At least I think that is what this is. Here is some history on the place. Apparently it is where all the royals used to live before they packed up and went to Buckingham (can I talk about the Royal Family in this glib narrative? I wonder if they monitor glib talk down at Buckingham? Not likely).

I would like to say though that there was a TV on in this palace. Who lives there now?





Then it was back on the train, tired, happy, and so grateful to live so close to such an amazing place. Again, see Map My Run for this second route.

Next week's agenda? National Portrait Gallery, Film Museum at County Hall, and H & M on Oxford Street. Sounds dynamite.

I hope your weekend was fabulous, lovelies. I'm marking tests now :(